Student building Zen garden at Belville Elementary

Leland Middle School student Jay Barham, 14, looks over plans he designed and created for a sensory garden with his Principal Patricia Underwood Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. The plans for the Sensory garden at Belville Elementary will cater to those with autism and provide sensory elements in the garden including, touch, smell and sight.

Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 4:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 4:46 p.m.

In an attempt to enjoy using his Dutch oven for as long as possible, Jay Barham has a goal to earn his Eagle Scout medal in a timely manner.

Facts

Want to help?

To reach Jay Barham about donating to his project, call John Barham at 616-8313. Barham is also the assistant scout master of Jay's Eagle Scout troupe.

When he receives it, the 14-year-old said he has a few recipes he can't wait to try.

"I want to get out there and enjoy it," he said.

The well-groomed teenager has a penchant for order, and his biggest obstacle in achieving his goal is his Eagle Scout project. But not to worry, Jay has a detailed plan that is well on its way to being fulfilled.

Jay is building a Zen garden at Belville Elementary for the school's special needs students as his project. It's a project that means more than just the use of a Dutch oven, but it's about helping others like him succeed.

On Tuesday, Jay will receive a $1,000 N.C. Beautiful grant to help him get the three-phase project under way.

Finding Zen

The garden is close to Jay's heart because his mom, Shannon Barham, is a special needs teacher in the district, but also because at birth he was diagnosed with a medical disorder called Periventricular leukomalacia, or PVL, that affects the brain and nervous system.

Doctors said it would rob him of his ability to walk, eat properly, speak, socialize and interact with the world. Jay has since overcome, and become an advocate for those that share disabilities in common with him.

After all he has overcome, special needs children need not be ostracized, the eloquent teen said.

"There are a lot of kids in schools who are exceptional, and people have no idea," he said. "I want to help make them see it so they don't look at them differently."

Jay's project is aimed at those with sensory disorders and autism.

Those with sensory disorders, something Jay has, react differently at the neural level to touch, sound, sight, feel and taste.

Jay said living with sensory issues is stressful, and even talking about certain subjects, like sand, is a visibly painful subject to him.

With that in mind, he is building the garden to help kids overcome.

The garden has the tools to help kids with the disorder find a soothing atmosphere, but also challenges them to grow accustomed to certain elements of their disorder. It also provides elements for those with other challenges, such as maneuvering a wheelchair.

"It has raised planters," he said. "And an awning for outdoor classes."

Counting blessings

Shannon Barham said she never accepted that Jay wouldn't be a normal boy.

There were times she doubted it, but she had plenty of help never accepting it.

"My older son always would tell us, ‘he's fine,'" she said. "He never accepted there was anything wrong with Jay."

Jay has come a long way from being fed out of a tube and not being able to walk or talk. As a middle school student, his teachers said he is intelligent, caring and outgoing. It's a rare day he misses school or an activity. He volunteers weekly.

Jay spent his summer volunteering at a camp for autistic children and spends his Thanksgiving feeding those in need.

His teachers and principal beam when talking about the teen, bringing tears to their eyes.

"To see how much he has accomplished," said Patricia Underwood, Leland Middle School principal. "It speaks volumes about him.

Barham said the week Jay was born, the church played the song, "Count Your Blessings." She has counted so many since that day, she said.

And with the Zen garden becoming a reality, with tears in her eyes, she said she is counting yet another.

<p>In an attempt to enjoy using his Dutch oven for as long as possible, Jay Barham has a goal to earn his Eagle Scout medal in a timely manner.</p><p>When he receives it, the 14-year-old said he has a few recipes he can't wait to try.</p><p>"I want to get out there and enjoy it," he said.</p><p>The well-groomed teenager has a penchant for order, and his biggest obstacle in achieving his goal is his Eagle Scout project. But not to worry, Jay has a detailed plan that is well on its way to being fulfilled.</p><p>Jay is building a Zen garden at Belville Elementary for the school's special needs students as his project. It's a project that means more than just the use of a Dutch oven, but it's about helping others like him succeed.</p><p>On Tuesday, Jay will receive a $1,000 N.C. Beautiful grant to help him get the three-phase project under way.</p><h3>Finding Zen</h3>
<p>The garden is close to Jay's heart because his mom, Shannon Barham, is a special needs teacher in the district, but also because at birth he was diagnosed with a medical disorder called Periventricular leukomalacia, or PVL, that affects the brain and nervous system.</p><p>Doctors said it would rob him of his ability to walk, eat properly, speak, socialize and interact with the world. Jay has since overcome, and become an advocate for those that share disabilities in common with him.</p><p>After all he has overcome, special needs children need not be ostracized, the eloquent teen said. </p><p>"There are a lot of kids in schools who are exceptional, and people have no idea," he said. "I want to help make them see it so they don't look at them differently."</p><p>Jay's project is aimed at those with sensory disorders and autism. </p><p>Those with sensory disorders, something Jay has, react differently at the neural level to touch, sound, sight, feel and taste.</p><p>Jay said living with sensory issues is stressful, and even talking about certain subjects, like sand, is a visibly painful subject to him.</p><p>With that in mind, he is building the garden to help kids overcome.</p><p>The garden has the tools to help kids with the disorder find a soothing atmosphere, but also challenges them to grow accustomed to certain elements of their disorder. It also provides elements for those with other challenges, such as maneuvering a wheelchair.</p><p>"It has raised planters," he said. "And an awning for outdoor classes."</p><h3>Counting blessings</h3>
<p>Shannon Barham said she never accepted that Jay wouldn't be a normal boy.</p><p>There were times she doubted it, but she had plenty of help never accepting it. </p><p>"My older son always would tell us, 'he's fine,'" she said. "He never accepted there was anything wrong with Jay."</p><p>Jay has come a long way from being fed out of a tube and not being able to walk or talk. As a middle school student, his teachers said he is intelligent, caring and outgoing. It's a rare day he misses school or an activity. He volunteers weekly.</p><p>Jay spent his summer volunteering at a camp for autistic children and spends his <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/holidays01"><b>Thanksgiving</b></a> feeding those in need.</p><p>His teachers and principal beam when talking about the teen, bringing tears to their eyes.</p><p>"To see how much he has accomplished," said Patricia Underwood, <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a> Middle School principal. "It speaks volumes about him.</p><p>Barham said the week Jay was born, the church played the song, "Count Your Blessings." She has counted so many since that day, she said.</p><p>And with the Zen garden becoming a reality, with tears in her eyes, she said she is counting yet another. </p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9907"><b>Jason Gonzales</b></a>: 343-2075</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNews_Jason</p>